I don't see a big problem with that now that all teams will be in one location. The consolidation changes things greatly for them. They also have a staff of coaches that all the players know or will get to know. The coach that just left is a good coach, but his other club (the one he owns) just aligned with World Class, so nobody should be surprised he's gone.

Seriously 3:00? You must be kidding right??? What kind of coaching do you get when they are on their 5 game of the day? These guys have day jobs too. How on earth are they going to be able to do it all and provide any kind of quality focus to the kids???

Please 9:02. Are you giving credit to those U14 teams to the MF staff? Youve got to be kidding. Let's look at the players attending NT camps and top ID's. Brought in and developed by the coach thats leaving. And no I'm not the coach. He alone built up a majority of the ECNL team and the entire NE NPL team. Just ask any of the parents. You're one of the parents that doesn't like him and that's fine. That's on every team. I'm sure he's hoping you don't ask him for any favors in the future.

9:54 - I am sure when a coach leaves for whatever reason, there are coaches that can step in and do a similar job. Everyone is replaceable. If you think otherwise then you are still in the same job your whole life. I guess if you're not the coach, which you probably are, then you are irreplaceable and the soccer world is reliant on you. And I am sure this super-coach that you speak of was so highly regarded that it must have been tough to let him go. Or not.I am pretty sure I won't be asking him for favors. I wouldn't know him if he fell on me.

Depending on which 02's follow him. If a majority of MF ECNL and NPL players move to WC and combine with their ECNL/NPL teams WC could quickly be extremely competitive at U15. Again it depends who makes the move. BYC could help WC at that age immensely.

Why would any parent be that naive to follow a daddy coach to a new club, after he was poaching players from a club that was paying him? What would make anyone think that coach will not do it again? Caveat emptor.

the parent that keeps referencing "daddy coach" is a parent on MF. we have heard you complain about this over and over, give it up already. We know who you are on this blog. as stated, this coach plays players who deserve to play. he is an extremely great coach and probably the best coach around that assures players and parents get along.

to argue your point, he is not pouching players personally if players that came with him, leave with him. Question is where you asked or do you plan on following?

Next, this coach has not provided information what where he is coaching next year. Why are we assuming he is coaching an ECNL team next year? I know this because I asked him what his plans are, he did not provide any insight except that he focused on growing his club. I told him I would follow him, all he said was I appreciate it and he did not say anything at the practice we were at on his plans. So I am waiting more information.

Interesting and sad about SD Surf. It just goes to show how disjointed and hostile the local clubs are to each other, that a club from across the country will try to exploit the dissatisfaction of the local youth soccer landscape.

As a parent after the Fall season ended I thought this team and this coach we're top notch. Though I still feel that way, this whole thing could have been handled much better by the club, the coach, and the parents. The kids seem to be taking it in stride, I don't tell my daughter more thank she needs to know... But these kids talk. As a poster above said, everyone's replaceable. I wish the coach well, he can definitely coach and he probably should stay off this board. It's way too obvious when he posts, but I understand as I would be unhappy if I was in the same position.

You people are nuts!! So both PDA and MF ECNL go 2-1 in San Diego and MF is in first place in league play on way back to SD for ECNL nationals yet they are a mess? Who says PDA peeps do not blog here. Wow!! And then the next answer is girls from northwest NJ are going to drive to WC in Westchester?? Again, you are all nuts!! God bless them if they do.....

8:45 I'm 8:30, my kid is not a top 25 player. This program seems to fit my daughter and players like her.

Reading these posts, 8:45 you must have an issue with the coach. wonder why you are attacking him? several posts you listed have been other posters. If you have a personal vendetta, you should speak to him directly. Just an observation.

Ok let's refocus here - MF will not implode, there are politics in every single team given the competitive nature of the sport and the militancy of the parents; the parents have a choice to change the team or to stick through the changes and look for opportunities for their children.

Bottom line is the most talented children will be visible and being in a steady, nourishing team will enable their growth better than continuous change.

I think folks just want to know which 2001s that currently play for Match Fit will be with their ECNL 2001 (U16) club come November when the new season takes shape. And who will be running the sessions, managing the games.

Anyone thinking of trying out there wants to know what type of ship they will be joining.

10:00 no disrespect - but these are questions that should be asked when your kid is training with the team or at tryouts. Taking info from an anonymous board is crazy, because you don't know the source of the info and yes it makes a difference - a parent who's kid plays all the time will not have issues with anything besides results. The parent of the kid who doesn't play as much will find every thing wrong valid or not.

As far as I know MF will have an ECNL team that will play in ECNL showcases plus league. They are currently in 1st place and on pace to play at nationals this will put them on the radar for next season regardless of who the coach is or isn't.

Will players leave - no idea - but if they do they will be replaced - will the results be the same better or worse? only time will tell.

Looking at this MF mess from the outside, it looks like the shit hit the fan with the merger of NJX. Are the NJX parents now running the show? Did the DOT make too many promises that he can't keep? Or are the NJX parents upset with the old coach because he played the best players and they did not include the NJX girls?

The ECNL announcement stated "multiple-year commitments from each of the new clubs joining the ECNL this fall"

So if NWSL teams are aligning for multiple-years with ECNL, who will be the main teams going to DA?

This pissing match between US Soccer and ECNL will just hurting our girls... putting our clubs (and kids) right in the middle. Does our ECNL club move to the DA if they get accepted - do they stay ECNL... how do they know what move to make?

Is this your club's goal - or are you happy with the niche you have carved out?

Dont do it just so you can say you can be the big cheese vs other clubs. Do what you do well - and be proud of it. Allow the players to leave for higher levels without regret from your side as well. Be happy they are challenging themselves and welcome them back should they fail

ECNL clubs that qualify will apply for GDA for their 1st teams with ECNL being an option for kids that want to play HS as level 2, NPL/National League will be their 3rd tier followed by local state leagues.

Time will tell -but with their most recent additions and their expansion on the boys side they are not going anywhere.

It will end up being either ECNL or DA choice for Clubs when the smoke clears.If you think the Federation is going to sit still and let ECNL Clubs drive this issue you haven't been paying attention. This is really all about control and $$$.

Can someone explain to me how the Boy's DA is funded (Trainers Salaries, Games, Fields, Refs, Travel etc.) Just curious how it will impact clubs financially if they take on both Boys and Girls DA. ECNL is fully funded by parents.

At my daughters club the boys DA is less than regular teams @1000 for the year, but that does not include travel and costs. However, we are a small club compared to some others, so our story is unique. I have to give credit to our club for not jacking our fees to supplement the boys DA, we only have 1 age group U13/14

Wow Ajax lost to STA. That might be STA's 1st strong result this year. So much for strength of NE-NPL League as they again crapped out when stepping outside their ECNL B and C Team cocoon.What happened to poster last week saying the 3 NE-NPL Teams from MatchFit and PDA were the top 3 teams in NJ outside of the 2 ECNL Teams.

This was once a top team and this is the end for them. Kids trying out at PDA, Berna Legacy, STA and Copa. Parents tried so hard to keep the core together that they never added top talent. They'll finish last in their league and some of these girls will be quitting soccer because they are not good at it anymore.

PDA South a much different team without their ECNL players. Their results are extremely inconsistent. They win or lose big depending on what players they have. Now that they play a different schedule than ECNL team they can use their players for league play. It is completely legal by league rules.

It is completely legal to use a few ECNL players on the NPL roster. Likewise, NPL players can play with ECNL. It's funny that the clubs that say ECNL is an overrated league are the clubs that complain when ECNL players are used in games against them.

Smoke and mirrors to avoid dealing with the fact that NE-NPL has once again been exposed.If Ajax hass already clinched NE-NPL League Title and loses to STA then what does that say about MF-NPL, Dragons and the rest of that league.

It does not matter if it's legal to cross play kids on different teams. It is unethical and unfair to do so since not only are you displacing kids from that team to make room for ringers just to win games, but it skews the teams actual abilities. So call it what it really is, bringing in ringers to win a game instead of playing with the kids that you are handed. Very unethical to do in youth sports.

11;55, not sure what one has to do with the other, neither do you. Storm is the best team in NJ, and they just lost to not the best team in PAE, that is surprise, especially to the Storm parents. I can just see them now, on the way home it must be real quiet in Mercedes GL350...

That is ridiculous bro, unless they had real injuries to multiple (top) players, they should of beaten a team like LVU, no slight to LVU, I really applaud their effort, but you can’t come with that BS. How can you not qualify for the final in your clubs own tournament?

Picture your daughters starting team out on the field. Ok now take away your number goalie and replace with goalie number 2. Next remove the starting center back and replace with the 12 th player. Then take your 13th player and replace your leading scoring striker. And lastly take out your center mid and replace with player 14. Ok you now have your 3 remaining players 16-18 available for subs. He would they fare in a top league and/or top level tournament, be honest. Now consider that before you start with posts ripping 13/14 year olds...and get a hobby.

So let me understand. PDA Storm lost because they used their "bench players"(obviously players they consider weak and not worthy of playing in "important games' but as long as they are willing to pay PDA will accept their checks and tell them they are part of the Storm Team). Meanwhile Ajax couldn't even win the 2nd flight against a team below them in their own NE_NPL League and the excuse is they didn't have their top players because their key players were playing with Storm who claims they lost to STA because they had to use those same Ajax star players. Whew! Spinning, spinning, spinning. What happened to the 13 non starters Storm, who is carrying 24 players, already has on their bench or in street clothes every game? Why did they need Ajax players?

We all knew the excuses would be ten fold from the 2 PDA teams after this weekend. They all make sense since both of their teams didn't win their respective championships in their own back yard. It really doesn't but Im listening to it all because it is entertaining. But folks, you didn't finish in the top two of your respective brackets. And that's only out of four teams. Didn't win, ok. Not to make even the finals, well Im still listening..

8:22 Here. Still waiting for an answer to my question if Storm has 24 roistered players why did they need to supposedly take Ajax best players for their own PDA Tournament. Wouldn't Storm have plenty of players out of their own players between 15-24 that have been paying and sitting on bench or sitting out at Jeff Cup and Cal and should have got that playing time without going into Ajax roster? Same old excuses not adding up.Here is probably closer to the truth;1 - Storm played their 15-24 on roster subs who sat at Jeff Cup and Cal and they are a large drop off from starters and mainly just pay their money to say they are on the team but are mostly JV/practice type players and a cash cow for PDA Club.and2 - Ajax just once again exposed as not very good whenever they step outside NE-NPL.

Give them a minute as they are thinking up a new spin, spin, spin to answer that one.And please stop questioning our excuses and asking reasonable questions. As long as our customers keep buying whatever excuses we spew out who cares if they make sense or are true or not.

Hey give them time they are still spinning up north.Hey we only have 24 players on Storm roster so if 3 are at ID2 camp then of course we needed to take 4 players from ajax to field a team with Storm. We couldn't play shorthanded with only 20 players.And please don't use that excuse for Ajax or dragons performance.ID2 does not take players from ECNL B or C teams because what if one of them got identified over one of that clubs ECNL Players. It's all about the brand, not the girls.

FC Delco Cup will be very interesting as many players/teams will coming from a big tryout year and many leaving or coming to current new or old squads will change the story of each bracket. Will many of the 01's play with the U15 teams they move to or stay down at U14 and this goes for each age group.

How come CFC Delco has not put any of there ECNL teams in their own tourney PDA does? As well as PF this is a quick right around the corner tourney for all 3 clubs in PA makes no sense.

I think young 01's will still play with their U14 teams as all the strong U15 teams are in PDA Girls College Showcase that weekend. FC Delco just like Spirit Kickoff is a strong tournament for U14 and under teams only. Those 2 tournaments are not showcases for older age groups and there will not be any college coaches at those events.

Ok can someone chime in on why Division III schools attend showcases if they cannot physically hand out any athletic scholarships. Just curious as my dd is a born 01 currently a freshman on a mid-level team that has a coach talking about attending more showcases for next year. Are those coaches just trying to recruit players to attend the school on merit knowing they may get academics scholars with option to continue playing a sport. Anyone with older siblings please chime in.

No U15 team is generally taking their u14 01s to PDA showcase unless possibly they are 9th graders. These u15 ECNL teams need to really ramp up the ninth graders exposure and will want to do that at PDA.

DIII no scholarships but still recruit.They get the players with no D1 or D2 offers or those that want the DIII school for academic reasons or specialty in their major or those who just want to ramp down soccer time commitment in college and have a more normal college experience. At D1 level it is a year round full time job and not in any way a normal college experience. At D1 level 16 hour days with your team and coaches is the norm.You arrive back to your room around 9pm after dinner and study hall wasted, sore, exhausted and ready to fall out and sleep after a full day of training, conditioning, meetings, film study, study hall, meals, showers and changing into and out of workout clothes.Making it at the D1 level is about much more than just athletic ability and technical skill.Only about half of those recruited to these schools will finish out their 4 years as players and graduate from that institution with a degree.Many will wash out either academically or fail to handle the commitment and be unable to budget their time properly with being away from home and on their own for the first time.Some will get into the party scene and handling that and playing soccer and academics is just about impossible for the vast majority of freshmen. If they party either their academics or soccer or both will pay the price.Some will just not be ready for the physical work load either physically or mentally and quit and come home.Some who have not been coached hard will not be able to handle the mental pressure of a tough, demanding coach or will lack the work ethic required at that level.Some will just not be good enough to earn playing time at that level and will transfer out to a different school rather than sitting on the bench for 4 years.Everyone needs to make sure this is really what the player wants and not the parents dream.They will have to sink or swim on their own in college and you will not have any influence with their coaches. They better know how to handle adversity themselves and grind through it without giving up.

1. 16 hour days between classes and soccer (no party girl here)2. so you are saying half drop out because of soccer with no degree?3. yes learning time management part of life (they will make mistakes - hopefully nothing serious)4. party girls will be the ones dropping out not because of soccer.5. so they stop playing soccer - OMG it's the end of the world they went for theirs and no one can take that away regardless of the outcome they are winners for trying!!! and will leave with a degree to make a bunch more money (I hope this changes for women playing soccer)6. So they transfer to another school if they still want to play.7. Why bring parents into your rant - it's not like the parents are going to the school - they are just trying to help them get into a school for the players to follow their dreams.

The only negative is the party girls - and guess what? that's just part of life some will learn the hard way.

Yes many will come home when they quit soccer, as they are embarrassed to stay at the school and face their teammates when they quit.Many come back home and go to local junior college or local college.Some will continue to play soccer at the new school and some will not.Didn't see my post as a rant at all just a reality check for some and info of what it will take and the possible pitfalls for others.Always best for the player to have realistic expectations of what they are signing up for and for what will be expected of them.A key part of the process is finding the right fit as a player.Better to understand what you are doing going in so you have the best chance to choose correctly the 1st time then lose credits and opportunities because of transferring.

7:36 not just talking about academic success.If you read the post you will find it deals with all the varied reasons why a large % of recruited players do not succeed at the school they choose to attend.Academic problems are only 1 of the reasons I mentioned.If you are going to argue that the tremendous demands in time and the pressure of balancing playing D1 Soccer and academics, social life,etc. are not a very challenging balance and becomes untenable for many players then you are just ignorant of the process and how tough it is.And if you are arguing my point of a major college D1 athlete not having anything like the normal college experience for non athletes at the same school then you are delusional.Their friends for the most part will be their teammates.They will have very little free time to cultivate relationships with students outside the team.They will meet some students who have the same classes but will not have the free time to meet them very often for parties/dances/concerts/going to games/other on campus or off campus events because they just won't have the free time or will be too tired or have to get up too early Especially in their 1st year which is when most students who don't make it flunk out/quit the team/transfer/come home/etc.And we haven't even touched on the makeup work and studying necessary to make up for missed classes when the team is on the road in season.Most power 5 conference teams don't travel on game day so a Friday/Sunday 2 game road trip means travelling on thursday and missing 2 days of school/classes that week.

And those teams have 5 or 6 road trips per season so you are talking about missing 2 days of school 5 or 6 times in the fall semester each of the players 4 years. Since most classes are 30 credit hours per semester missing 5 or 6 times is missing a good deal of class time especially if you plan on majoring in something other than Phys Ed. The player will have to give up what little free time they have to stay on top of finding out from the professor what work/reading/lectures/notes/quizzes/tests they missed while the team was on the road and make that work up.

True normal college students have a tough transition just with academics, social life, and balancing those and being away from home and on their own for the first time. Now you throw the demands and pressures of playing a sport at the major college level and you are of course talking about a very challenging transition and that many who go that route do not succeed. The mental challenge is more difficult than the physical challenges. Players must be mentally tough and resilient to succeed in college.

1176 will most likely win their bracket if they get all their players back. The Jeff Cup team was a shell of what they should have been. Wildcats will take the top bracket at Delco as PL continues to tumble.

8:56 Thanks for the Est. cost of $7,000. Like many have said ECNL is not for everyone 7k a year for the next 4 years is almost or more than 1 year college tuition. So basically a child will need at least 25% scholarship if even given to break even from playing ECNL U15-U19. Plus all those prior years.

Girls DA will help as it may not be free but it will be at a reduced cost vs a clubs cash flow to pay themselves and coaches.

Youth Soccer Talk

We are a youth soccer blog and forum for parents, coaches and trainers to share information, questions and opinions.
Rules of Play:
No names, phone numbers, player IDs, profanity.
As with all youth sports, viewer discretion advised.